For the past 13 years, Aldersgate Methodist Church in Slidell has been bringing the Slidell community together each year with a big Thanksgiving Dinner.

This year, the 14th Community Thanksgiving is no different, except that the founder of the event, Tim Dunn, decided to take a rest, and leave the cooking and organizing to other members of the church.

Ronny Kastner, one of the organizers said that they usually serve about 1,700 dinners. The largest number of dinners was in 2005, right after Hurricane Katrina when many displaced residents showed up for the dinner. The numbers have slacked off since then, Kastner said, but it averages over 1,000 every year.

Karen Hattier of Aldersgate Church in Slidell shows off some of the hundreds of cans of yams that have been gathered for Thursday’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner. (Staff photo by Erik Sanzenbach)

“Now, we see the bridge workers, volunteers still helping after the storm,” Kastner said. But he added that he is seeing more area residents due to the current economy.

But Community Thanksgiving Chairman Karen Hattier said that the event is really for everybody. You don’t have to be poor, sick or disabled. The dinner is a celebration for everybody.

“It’s about eating, eating, and eating,” Hattier said.

To accomplish all this eating, Hattier and her crew spend a lot of time gathering all the food. Some they buy, but the community donates a lot of it. Area churches have held food drives to gather the food, and others like St. Margaret Mary Church have donated all the cranberry sauce. Hattier said local Girl Scouts donated pies for the dessert.

Though a lot of people come to Aldersgate 360 Robert Blvd. in Slidell to eat, Hattier said there are two other churches where people can celebrate Community Thanksgiving. Dinner is being served Thursday at Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church, 2457 Second St. in Slidell and at the Village Lutheran Church, 29180 U.S. Highway 190 in Lacombe. The celebration starts at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

If you can’t make it to the dinner, don’t worry, volunteers will deliver a Thanksgiving dinner to your house. For those who can’t leave their homes, call 290-4507 to order. All orders must be called in by the end of today. There is also a pick up station at all three locations.

This year, Kastner said he is trying to do something new, and that is set up a pickup stand on Gause Boulevard. That is still in the works, but if Kastner finds a location, look for the banners and people if you want to have a Thanksgiving dinner.

The organizers have bought 110 turkeys and others have been donated. Most of the turkeys have been cooked already and volunteers have cut them up and separated the pieces for tomorrow’s feast.

Starting at 6 a.m. tomorrow, Kastner and a lot of cooks will be heating up huge crawfish pots to cook the vegetables, mashed potatoes, gravy and turkey dressing. There are also rolls to heat up and pies to slice.

Hattier who has worked for other charity organizations said she is doing this is a perfect fit for her and her husband, Paul.

“Paul and I have desired to be more involved in serving St. Tammany, and think celebrating Thanksgiving as a community reminds us of the real reason we have the holiday,” Hattier said.

Kastner said he gets a lot of satisfaction out of helping people in his hometown of Slidell.

“I enjoy seeing all the people who couldn’t enjoy the holiday otherwise,” Kastner said. “I really enjoy the Slidell community spirit. This is more than about church or helping out. It’s about interacting with the community, the fellowship, celebration and camaraderie.”